The Last Enemy Standing
Valen, the wounded wolf. The fallen king.
And before him—Kael, the architect of his ruin.
Fire crackled around the grand hall, its glow reflecting off the bloodied blade in Valen's trembling hands. His breath was ragged, his stance still strong, but his body betraying him.
He knew he had lost.
But he would not die without a fight.
Kael twirled his dagger between his fingers, taking his time.
No fear. No adrenaline.
To him, this fight had already ended before it even began.
Valen spat blood onto the ground and smirked.
"You remind me of myself when I was younger."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Then you didn't learn much with age."
Silence.
Then, with a roar, Valen charged.
The Final Confrontation
Kael didn't move.
He didn't retreat.
He waited.
Valen's mistake was already made.
He was fighting with anger.
And Kael punished weakness.
Valen's sword slashed through the air, a brutal arc aimed at Kael's chest.
Kael tilted his body at the last second.
The steel missed by mere inches.
And now, Kael was inside his guard.
Abyssal Claws—Activated.
Kael's shadow-wreathed hand plunged into Valen's stomach.
A sharp gasp.
Blood dripped from the corner of Valen's mouth.
But he did not fall.
A wolf dies fighting.
With a savage growl, Valen smashed the hilt of his sword into Kael's face.
CRACK.
Kael staggered back.
The first hit he had taken.
Not fatal. But irritating.
Wiping the blood from his lips, Kael narrowed his eyes.
"That was your best?"
Valen grinned through the pain—but Kael saw it.
The despair in his eyes.
He already knew how this would end.
The End of Valen
Valen lunged again.
This time, Kael gave him no chance.
Shadow Step—Activated.
For a single moment, Kael disappeared from sight.
Then—he was behind Valen.
Dark Mantle—Activated.
The shadows consumed him.
Valen had no time to react.
The only thing he felt—was Kael's blade sliding through his chest.
Silence.
Valen's body stiffened.
His gaze met Kael's.
He tried to speak, but… he already knew.
This was the end.
Kael pulled the blade free.
Valen collapsed to his knees.
His body trembled—then fell forward.
The last wolf was dead.
And the Black Fortress belonged to the ashes.
The New King of Shadows
The hall fell silent.
Kael stood motionless, staring at Valen's corpse.
This was not just the end of an enemy.
It was the end of an era.
The Ironbloods were no more.
And the void of power they left behind…
Would be filled.
By someone.
The Shadow Dawn would claim the fortress.
But Kael already knew the truth.
They were no different from the Ironbloods.
They just carried a different banner.
With a different leader.
And Kael answered to no one.
Turning on his heel, he walked out of the hall.
His work here was done.
Now… it was time for the next game.